8 Facts You Didn’t Know About Your First Drone

The latest cool adult toy around definitely has to be the drone. Hoover boards are old news right now. Drones have grown in popularity because of their various applications. Having evolved from military grade weapons of destruction, drones have made their way into our home and our hearts through their easy, remote control features. From real estate tools of photography to Ariel video recorders, drones are indispensable gadgets to our children and all flying toys enthusiasts.

So you've decided to get yourself a drone. Do you know which kind you want, how to operate it or all the other technical and legal controls? Below we take you step by step through what you need to know about buying and owning of drones for beginners.

1. There are more than 20 different types of drones in the market.

Drones are classified based on a lot of things. There are drones classified on the size into Nano and mini drones. Then there are drones Which are classified on the basis of the number of propellers into tricopters and the hexacopters. You can also pick a drone based on what equipment it has attached to it, there are drones with cameras, drones that have GPS enabled gadgets and even drones with stabilizers. Based on this, you can combine the features you want in a drone to enable you to choose a drone that is tailored to your needs. A good example would be the RC Quadcopter, Potensic F181DHDrone RTF Altitude hold UFO with newest Hover Function, 2MP Camera and 5.8 GHz FPV LCD screen monitor.

2. The world of Drones just like any other field has its own terminology.

Beginners in drone world are not referred to as newbies; instead, they are called the 'anoobs'. There are a few terminologies to understand when buying a drone:

RTF mean the drone is ready to fly and does not need any assembly.

ARTF will refer to a drone that requires very minimal assembly to fly.

FPV means that the camera will give you a real time image of what the drone camera is viewing.

RTH Gimbal. This is a specialized mount for a camera, giving it the ability to Swerve and tilt by utilizing servos. This gives the camera the capability of staying in one position, regardless of the movement of the drone. This allows for a very smooth and stabilized and Smooth looking image.

Gyroscope is an instrument that enables the drone to determine angular Velocity enabling it to stay on a straight path

Drone for beginners will probably be a challenge because of all the jargon you have to maneuver through.

3. Battery time is a lie.

Even with the most advanced drone that money can buy, battery time will still be a challenge. Most drones have an average flying time of about twenty minutes or less. The saddest part is that toy drones can have a flying time of as low as 5-7 minutes. Factoring in such things as camera power, remote power, and the energy used to fly against the wind; it probably makes sense that the battery cannot last long. That means that when buying a drone, you will be unable to fly it for an hour without recharge.

It is recommended that you carry an extra set of batteries so that you don't keep recharging it. It is also possible to havea power bank as this will come in handy out in the field.

4. The buying price is just the beginning

Good quality drones having an average starting price of around 90 dollars, the newest DJ Phantom sells at $1,032 dollars on Amazon. You would honestly hope that this should give you at least a years' Worth of peace. Truth is, flying in the air and in unpredictable skies and especially for a beginner may damage the drone. When buying you might have to get an extra set of propellers, another pack of batteries, prop guards and a charger.

If damaged, you might need to pay someone to repair it. Drones are by all means a financially draining investment and you might therefore have to be very careful on how you handle your drone.

There are however certain drones that come with a good long warranty and with an extra set of parts such as the 3DR SOLO.

5. You might need a license to fly your drone

The United States Federal Aviation Administration has a rule that requires all drones ranging between 250g to around 25kgs usedas a hobby or for recreational purposes to be registered. Failure of registration may lead to fine charges of up to $27,500 USD. In serious cases, you may get jailed for a minimum of three years. The great thing about this is that registration can be done online and costs only $5. If you have multiple drones, you don't need to register each of them. The rule is registration per owner. After a successful registration you get a printable sticker that you can stick on whatever drone you're flying.

6. Drones are always viewed with suspicion and you will most likely be regarded as an intruder.

Most people will view a stray drone flying over their compound as a threat. Fairly so, drones do have cameras and so this is justified. As a drone owner make it your personal aim to show people that you mean no harm. Sometimes seek permission and inform the neighbors that it's just for fun and definitely nothing illegal.

7. Drones also have flying Zones.

In busy towns such as New York, there are very limited areas where you will be allowed to fly your drone. In the US and the UK, you can check my air space map areas where you can or cannot fly your drone. Know all these zones before you fly

8. There are school and programs that help beginners learn how to fly drones.

Flying drones for beginners is a great risk, you don't want to crash. YouTube tutorials are not giving you all the information you want. Luckily for you, there are numerous schools that offer tutorials on flying drones. There are also organizations and Facebook pages for drone enthusiasts so you never have to feel alone.

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